Rocker member actuated switch assembly

Abstract

A multi-stage electrical rocker actuated switch assembly is disclosed which basically consists of a rocker operating element which is pivotably mounted on a housing and four plungers which face the underside of the rocker operating element with one of their ends while the other ends engage with a movable contact part. In order to create a multi-stage rocker actuated switch in which two exactly definable functional positions in each direction can clearly be felt by the user because of a sharp change in the operating forces during operation of the rocker operating element, the two movable contact parts present in each functional group are so different in design that in order to switch over the one movable contact part, a force is necessary whose magnitude is definable different from the force which is necessary to switch over the other movable contact part and wherein for each functional group an intermediate element in the form of a two-armed lever is present which is situated between the ends of the two plungers belonging to each functional group and the underside of the rocker operating element, both intermediate elements being capable of displacement in the operational direction of the rocker operating element while at the same time they are mounted to as to be capable of tilting crosswise relative to the operational direction of the rocker operating element.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A multi-stage electrical rocker actuated switch assembly for motor vehicles with a housing which accommodates fixed and movable contact parts, with at least one rocker operating element mounted on the housing which, starting from a neutral position can be brought into four functional positions through its two operating directions, whereby the underside of the rocker operating element cooperates with one end of each of four plungers which are mounted in the housing so as to be slidable and which each can be displaced separately from the others, the other ends of the plungers engaging with four movable contact parts, whereby for each operating direction, two movable contact parts and two plungers are gathered into one functional group in such a way that by operation of the rocker operating element in one of its two operating directions, after a first operational travel one of the two movable contact parts and after a second operational travel, both movable contact parts of a functional group engages or engage with the associated fixed contact parts so as to give electrical contact, wherein: both movable contact parts which are present in each functional group exhibit different designs so that in relation to the relevant functional group, a force is needed to switch over one movable contact part which is different in magnitude from the force which is needed to switch over the other movable contact part; and   for each functional group, an intermediate element in the form of a two-armed lever situated between the ends of the two plungers belonging to a functional group and the underside of the rocker operating element, whereby the two intermediate elements can each be displaced in the operating direction of the rocker operating element and are mounted so as to be capable of tilting crosswise to the operating direction.   
     
     
       2. A multi-stage electrical rocker actuated switch assembly according to claim 1, wherein: a tilt axis of the intermediate elements is in each case in the form of an axis stump which is formed onto the intermediate elements.   
     
     
       3. A multi-stage electrical rocker actuated switch assembly according to claim 1, wherein: a tilt axis of at least one of the two intermediate elements is arranged in such a way that two arms of the same length are formed.   
     
     
       4. A multi-stage electrical rocker actuated switch assembly according to claim 1, wherein: four guide slots which are present in the housing and which each accommodate one plunger so that the plunger can be slidably displaced are arranged in such a way that two plungers belonging to one functional group are allocated to one end area of the rocker operating element away from a pivotal axis; and   two plungers belonging to the other functional group are allocated to another end area of the rocker operating element.   
     
     
       5. A multi-stage electrical rocker actuated switch assembly according to claim 1, wherein: a bearing arrangement located on the underside of the rocker operating element away from a pivotal axis is formed on to accept one of the two intermediate elements in a tiltable fashion; and   each intermediate element comes to rest against the top surfaces of both plungers allocated to it with edge surfaces of both its arms which face away from the underside in order to operate the two plungers allocated to it.   
     
     
       6. A multi-stage electrical rocker actuated switch assembly according to claim 4, wherein: the upper areas of both guide slots belonging to each functional group which face the rocker operating element are connected with each other by a retaining pocket, whereby each retaining pocket accommodates one of the two intermediate elements and is arranged to turn crosswise to the direction in which the two guide slots run.   
     
     
       7. A multi-stage electrical rocker actuated switch assembly according to claim 6, wherein: the two retaining pockets are narrower across their width than the cross-sections of the two guide slots allocated to each, so that each of the two retaining pockets exhibits a dumbbell-like cross-section.   
     
     
       8. A multi-stage electrical rocker actuated switch assembly according to claim 4, wherein: at least one guide slit is centrally placed between the two guide slots belonging to a functional group and running parallel to them with which a tilt axis of the associated intermediate element engages.   
     
     
       9. A multi-stage electrical rocker actuated switch assembly according to claim 1, wherein: an operating extension is formed onto the underside of the rocker operating element away from a pivotal axis which comes to rest against an edge surface facing the underside of a central area of the intermediate element allocated to it; and   each intermediate element, in order to operate the two plungers allocated to it, coming to rest against the plungers with the edge surfaces of its two arms which face away from the underside.   
     
     
       10. A multi-stage electrical rocker actuated switch assembly according to claim 1, wherein: the housing contains a guide plate in which guide slits and retaining pockets and on which a bearing arrangement for swiveling action of the rocker operating element are present in an integral form.   
     
     
       11. A multi-stage electrical rocker actuated switch assembly according to claim 1, wherein: the fixed contact parts are in the form of conductive track formations of an electrical printed circuit board; and   the movable contact parts are pressure elements of a so-called flexible dome switching mat.   
     
     
       12. A multi-stage electrical rocker actuated switch assembly according to claim 1, wherein: the fixed contact parts are in the form of conductive track formations of an electrical printed circuit board; and   the movable contact parts are in the form of so-called snap switching discs.